Watch Dayton City Commission candidates debate

Debate sponsored by DDN, WHIO and League of Women Voters

Dayton City Commission candidates Darryl Fairchild and Daryl Ward took part in a debate tonight ahead of the May 8 election.

During the hour-long debate they focused on what’s next for Good Samaritan Hospital site, drugs, neighborhood needs and education.

The two are running to fill the seat of longtime commissioner Joey Williams who resigned in February.

The debate was at Stivers School for the Arts, Eichelberger Theatre, 1313 East Fifth Street in Dayton.

The debate was sponsored by the Dayton Daily News, WHIO-TV and Radio and the League of Women Voters of the Greater Dayton Area.

The debate was moderated by WHIO-TV’s Jim Otte and Etana Jacobi of UpDayton.

Ward is the senior pastor at Omega Baptist Church and Fairchild is manager of chaplain services at Dayton Children’s Hospital.

This is Ward’s first run for public office. Earlier this year he was running for a seat on the Montgomery County Commission, but moved to the city commission race when Williams stepped down.

Fairchild has run for city commission twice before. He narrowly lost a seat to newcomer Chris Shaw in 2015, but was defeated by a much larger margin by incumbent commissioners Williams and Jeff Mims Jr. last year.

The Dayton Daily News, WHIO and the League of Women are sponsoring the debate to help educate voters before Election Day.

“The mission of the League is to provide nonpartisan information to voters on candidates and issues they can use when they cast their ballot. Dayton is the hub of the Greater Dayton Area, we feel this is an important race for the city, its residents and the extended community, said Dayton Area LWV Executive Director Susan Hesselgesser.

We asked both Ward and Fairchild a series of questions for our voters guide. You can find all of their answers at vote.daytondailynews.com

Here’s a look at some of their answers as submitted by the candidates:

Q: What are the two biggest challenges facing the city and how would you deal with them?

Darryl Fairchild: 1) A year after passing a levy to increase taxes, the city announced they were still having funding issues and that there are structural problems with the budget. The loss of Commissioner Williams, who was perceived to bring fiscal discipline to the commission, raises concerns about the financial well-being of the city. I will bring my experience and tough mindedness, developed from being an executive director, 12-year board member of the Otterbein Homes, and current commissioner of Great Dayton Premier Management to monitor our fiscal decisions.

2) A majority of residents do not feel safe in their own neighborhood. The social fabric in many of our neighborhoods is so frayed that we do not have the deep relationships that create community. As commissioner, I will champion our residential neighborhoods, support new, local economic initiatives, and advocate for our children and youth. We need a clear plan to bring focus, set priorities, and recruit resources to address these issues.

Daryl Ward: Education and out of school activities for young people. Need a network of out of school sites that can hold all of us accountable for our future neighborhoods need housing and street maintenance, safety and security, unity.

Q: How will you work with the schools to improve education in the city?

Darryl Fairchild: We need our students, school district and new superintendent to be successful. Unfortunately, parents and the general public do not have confidence in the school district demonstrated by the student population loss. Likewise, the majority of our charter schools are failing our students too.

As the only candidate or commissioner with a student in Dayton Public Schools, I bring a unique perspective to education. Additionally, I have been active in working with other parents to voice concerns, offer solutions, and work for improvement.

I would use my collaboration skills to bring parties together and to bridge the mistrust created by the untimely reduction in force, the miscommunication between the city and DPS regarding levies, the prolonged contract negotiations, and the controversial appointment of a task force.

Additionally, I will work with community leaders to restore a shared commitment to education - students, parents, residents and leaders.

Daryl Ward: Get behind the new superintendent and board to partner with the other churches and community organizations to make change.

I am a Big brother in the big brother big sister organization. I have been working with my little brother for about four years. When I have done best with him I have set the expectations higher than anyone else around him. And he surpassed my expectations.! But we must surround our children with positive activities and experiences. Because achievement will fade if not enforced.

Let’s create a network of churches and other community organizations to support our children with out of school activities and recreation.

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VOTERS GUIDE ONLINE

Our team reached out to the local candidates on the ballot May 8 to help you be an informed voter.

Go to vote.daytondailynews.com to see what candidates and issues are on your ballot May 8. There you will find coverage for races including governor, U.S. Senate and Congress, statehouse, county races and more.

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